The
Game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualities
of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired and
strengthened by it, so as to become habits ready on all occasions, for life is a
kind of Chess, in which we have often points to gain, and competitors or
adversaries to contend with, and in which there is a vast variety of good and
ill events that are, in some degree, the effect of prudence, or the want of it.
By playing at Chess, then, we may learn:

1st:
Foresight, which looks a little into futurity, and considers the consequences
that may attend an action, for it is continually occurring to the player, “If
I move this Piece, what will be the advantage or disadvantage of my new
situation? What use can my adversary make of it to annoy me? What other moves
can I make to support it, and to defend myself from his attacks?”

2nd:
Circumspection, which surveys the whole Chess-board, or scene of action, the
relation of the several Pieces, their situations, and the dangers they are
repeatedly exposed to, the several possibilities of their aiding each other, the
probabilities that the adversary may make this or that move, and attack this
or that Piece, and what different means can be used to avoid his stroke, or
turn its consequences against him.

3rd:
Caution, not to make our moves too hastily. This habit is best acquired by
observing strictly the laws of the game, such as, if you touch a piece you must
move it somewhere, and if you set it down, you must let it stand.

Therefore,
it would be the better way to observe these rules, as the game becomes thereby
more the image of human life, and particularly of war, in which, if you have
incautiously put yourself into a bad and dangerous position, you cannot obtain
your enemy’s leave to withdraw your troops and place them more securely, but
you must abide by all the consequences of your rashness.

And,
lastly, we learn Chess by the habit of not being discouraged by present bad
appearances in the state of our affairs, the habit of hoping for a favourable
chance, and that of preserving in the search of resources. The game is so full
of events, there is such a variety of turns in it, the fortune of it is so
subject to vicissitudes, and one so frequently, after contemplation, discovers
the means of extricating one’s self from a supposed insurmountable difficulty,
that one is encouraged to continue the contest to the last, in hopes of victory
from our skill, or, at least, from the negligence of our adversary, and whoever
considers, what in Chess he often sees instances of, that success is apt to
produce presumption and its consequent inattention, by which more is afterwards
lost than was gained by the preceding advantage, while misfortunes produce more
care and attention, by which the loss may be recovered, will learn not to be too
much discouraged by any present successes of his adversary, nor to despair of
final good fortune upon every little check he receives in the pursuit of it.

That
we may, therefore, be induced more frequently to choose this beneficial amusement
in preference of others, which are not attended with the same advantages, every
circumstance that may increase the pleasure of it should be regarded, and every
action or word that is unfair, disrespectful, or that in any way may give
uneasiness should be avoided, as contrary to the immediate intention of both
the parties, which is to pass the time agreeably.

1st:
Therefore, if it is agreed to play according to the strict rules, then those
rules are to be strictly observed by both parties, and should not be insisted
upon for one side while deviated from by the other, for this is not equitable.

2nd:
If it is agreed not to observe the rules exactly, but one party demands
indulgences, he should then be as willing to allow them to the other.

3rd:
No false move should ever be made to extricate yourself out of a difficulty, or
to gain an advantage, for there can be no pleasure in playing with a man once
detected in such unfair practice.

4th:
If your adversary is long in playing, you ought not to hurry him, or express any
uneasiness at his delay, not even by looking at your watch, or taking up a book
to read; you should not sing, nor whistle, nor make a tapping with your feet on
the floor, or with your fingers on the table, nor do anything that may distract
his attention, for all these things displease, and they do not prove your skill
in playing, but your craftiness and your rudeness.

5th:
You ought not to endeavour to amuse and deceive your adversary by pretending to
have made bad moves and saying you have now lost the game, in order to make him
secure and careless, and inattentive to your schemes, for this is fraud and
deceit, not skill in the game of Chess.

6th:
You must not, when you have gained a victory, use any triumphing or insulting
expressions, nor show too much of the pleasure you feel, but endeavour to
console your adversary, and make him less dissatisfied with himself by every
kind and civil expression that may be used with truth, such as, you understand
the game better than I, but you are a little inattentive, or, you play too fast,
or, you had the best of the game, but something happened to divert your thoughts and that turned it in my favour.

7th:
If you are a spectator while others play, observe the most perfect silence, for
if you give advice you offend both the parties: him against whom you give it,
because it may cause him to lose the game, and him in whose favour you give it,
because, though it be good and he follow it, he loses the pleasure he might
have had if you had permitted him to think till it occurred to himself. Even
after a move or moves you must not, by replacing the Pieces, show how they
might have been placed better, for that displeases, and might occasion disputes
or doubts about their true situation.

All
talking to the players lessens or diverts their attention and is, therefore,
unpleasing, nor should you give the least hint to either party, by any kind of
noise or motion; if you do, you are unworthy to be a spectator.

If
you desire to exercise or show your judgment, do it in playing your own game,
when you have an opportunity, not in criticizing, or meddling with, or counseling
the play of others.

Lastly,
if the game is not to be played rigorously, according to the rules before
mentioned, then moderate your desire of victory over your adversary, and be
pleased with one over yourself.

Snatch
not eagerly at every advantage offered by his unskillfulness or inattention, but
point out to him kindly that by such a move he places or leaves a Piece en
prise unsupported, that by another he will put his King into a dangerous
situation, etc.

By
this general civility (so opposite to the unfairness before forbidden) you may
happen indeed to lose the game, but you will win what is better: his esteem, his
respect, and his affection, together with the silent approbation and good
will of the spectators.